Malachi: Refiner

But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when he appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire…He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver.  And He will purify the sons of Levi…that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness.

Malachi 3:2-3 [NASB]

I love handbells!  I love playing them, teaching them, and listening to them.  Last week, one of my ringers in Kidz Bells asked me how the bells were made.  I explained to him that handbells are cast of pure bronze—a mixture of 80% copper and 20% tin.  After being heated to approximately 2,150° F, the molten metal is poured into sand molds. After the bronze has hardened, the sand is broken away. The raw bell casing is roto-blasted to remove burnt-in molding sand and scale, then sent to the lathe department, where the rotating bell is cut, drilled and endlessly sanded until it is shining spotlessly and perfectly tuned.

The Bible tells us that we humans are in need of a similar refining process.  Sin has transformed us into instruments that are rough, stained, and out of tune. Isaiah says that God refines us in the furnace of affliction [Isaiah 48:10].  Zechariah states that God’s people will be tried as gold is tried [Zech.13:9].  Job triumphantly proclaims, “He knows the way I take; when He has tried me, I will come forth as gold.” [Job 23:10 NAS]  I don’t like to be spiritually cut or drilled, and the constant sanding of my character can be irritating, to say the least!  However, God promises me that it will be worth it, and I’m going to hold Him to it!

Pure and holy I would be,

Worthy of Your love for me.

Teach me while Your light is clear;

Change me while my heart is near.

Malachi: Sun of Righteousness

Unto you who fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings…

Malachi 4:2a [KJV]

Elizabeth Edwards died yesterday.  I felt a great sorrow, even though I do not know her, have never met her, nor had the opportunity to speak to her.  That being said, I have personally identified with the public and personal Elizabeth Edwards for many years. As a cancer survivor myself, I was saddened when her breast cancer returned in 2007, metastasized into her bones. I understood her pain when she was publicly humiliated by her cheating husband John—the beautiful man with the million dollar smile and an empty soul.  She has been a role model for bravery, integrity, courage and hope. 

When a reporter asked her how she had survived the last few years – how she continued to strive forward with grace and courage, she quoted these words from a Leonard Cohen song:

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack in everything -
That's how the light gets in.

Our text today speaks of Jesus as the Sun of Righteousness, rising up out of the darkness with healing in His wings.  There are days when it seems as if the world is covered with a thick, smoky fog of conflict, illness and death.  Reports of acquaintances, friends, and loved ones freshly diagnosed with cancer, heart disease, or Alzheimer’s arrive far too frequently.  How much we need the presence of the Son in our lives – pushing back the darkness and restoring our wounded souls.

Shine, Jesus, shine, fill this land with the Father’s glory,

Blaze, Spirit, blaze, set our hearts on fire.

Flow, river, flow, flood the nations with grace and mercy.

Send forth your word, Lord, and let there be light.

Malachi: Messenger of the Covenant

…And the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple,

even the Messenger of the Covenant, whom ye delight in.

Behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts.

Malachi 3:1b [KJV]

A covenant is a promise - pure and simple: an agreement between two or more parties to do something, or to not do something.  The marriage vow is a very common covenant in our society today. You and I pledge to love, honor and cherish one another until "death do us part," and we agree to a binding contract of marriage.  Unfortunately, today's divorce rates prove that this promise is one that is easily and carelessly broken.  Actually, society's track record of keeping any kind of promise is abysmal, tainting our ability to truly understand the meaning of an everlasting agreement.                     

A covenant of salvation was given to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden:  "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel" (Gen. 3:15).  Ever since, mankind has looked forward to a Redeemer who would reverse the tide of evil. The covenant was repeated to Abraham when he was called by the Lord.  God promised: "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you" [Gen. 12:3].  It would be through the seed of Abraham that the Savior would come.

When Zacharias’ speech was restored at the birth of his son, John, he proclaimed the soon fulfillment of the covenant.  “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David” [Luke 1:68-69].   That promise was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ.  He came to give His life “as a ransom for many,” to satisfy the demands of the law, and open wide the gates of heaven.  The book of Jude proclaims that He is able to present us “faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.”  Praise His holy name!

Standing on the promises of Christ the King

Through eternal ages let His praises ring,

Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,

Standing on the promises of God.